About Cal Skinner

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Below are three of the opinions cited by Jack Franks’ Freedom of Information Officer to justify the assertion that McHenry County Blog is not part of the news media. The first is dated February 13, 2015. The second is dated … Continue reading →

According to a statement filed with the Public Access Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, McHenry County Blog is not a member of the media. You can read the reply to the Public Access Counselor’s request below: The letter … Continue reading →

On October 6, 2015, the McHenry County the McHenry County Board voted down proposals to allow citizens to vote on whether they wanted to consolidate various townships. The vote was defeated 9-13. In early December, Wonder Lake’s Bob Anderson filed … Continue reading →

Yesterday, I attended the Transportation Committee meeting of the McHenry County Board. That was where the Committee voted 3-2 to approve dropping the Continuous Flow Intersection in favor of a more conventional, yet innovative for Illinois, approach of three left … Continue reading →

At the request of Deputy County Administrator John Labjai (now retired), McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer performed an audit on Nunda Township’s senior bus program. It was financed with a grant administered by McHenry County. Federal and state money was … Continue reading →

If the Federal government audits a grant given to the State of Illinois, wouldn’t you consider than an “external” audit? How about when the Illinois Auditor General was auditing all the RTA contracts with providers of mass transportation? Would you … Continue reading →

McHenry County Auditor Pam Palmer conducted an audit of the grant to the Nunda Township Road Commissioner for Senior Bus Service. Since County government was responsible for awarding the money, it seems appropriate that the Auditor should see if it … Continue reading →

Our family went to Galena mid-week and, besides seeing skiers on Spring Break for the first time at Chestnut Ridge, I found a press release from the Public Access Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. It was in The … Continue reading →

Just as whites were more privileged than blacks on Montgomery Alabama, buses, those trying to video or audio tape and photograph Grafton Township meetings seem to be now less equal than print reporters with pencil and pad. The Public Access … Continue reading →

Former McHenry County Board member Lou Anne Majewski filed an Open Meetings complaint against the McHenry County Board for going into closed session to discuss a resolution drafted by a county board committee. Majewski says Chairman Ken Koehler said the … Continue reading →

The Public Access Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office is looking into a complaint about a possible violation of the Open Meetings Act on February 15, 2011. “We have determined that further inquiry into this allegation is warranted,” wrote … Continue reading →

When the Public Access Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office ruled that the names of Firearm Owner’s Identification Card holders under the Freedom of Information Act, gun owners hit the roof. I admit to not knowing what the problem … Continue reading →

“No Guns Within” That’s the sign that I’ve suggested those opposed to people being allowed to protect themselves with guns should stick in their front yards since I ran for State Comptroller in 1982. Now Attorney General Lisa Madiagn’s … Continue reading →

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Department has lost an April 29, 2010, appeal filed by McHenry County Blog to obtain SWAT training records for Deputy Eric Woods. Under the decision, received yesterday from Assistant Public Access Counselor Matthew C. Rogina, the … Continue reading →

The McHenry County Board’s decision-makers have released the bills and court orders even members of the Finance and Audit Committee were not important enough to show. The bills, however, are not anything like what your or I would receive from … Continue reading →

You may remember that I’ve been trying to get information about the suicide notes that Phil Pagano’s suicide notes. I requested that McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren send me a copy of Pagano’s signature on one of the notes that … Continue reading →

On September 23, I filed an appeal to McHenry County’s denial of my Freedom of Information request for “copes of the bills that were submitted by Special Prosecutor Tonigan,” plus for “any for consultants, investigators, or anything else submitted.” “No, … Continue reading →

The title of this article could have been “Blogger Sued,“ but there’s enough drama without bringing that up. Or the headline could have been “MCC Sues MCC Founder.” I even have a ribbon from the dedication of the current campus … Continue reading →

Eight media requests were apparently made to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department for copies of the suicide notes that Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano wrote to members of his family. Another was made by the Better Government Association. The one … Continue reading →